Beverly Waste Watchers: Cabot Trash Talk Aims To Enlighten, Entertain

BEVERLY, MA — A night of fun, food and entertainment promises to be a waste of time — in a good way — when Green Beverly hosts the third "Talking Trash" community conversation at the historic Cabot Theater on Thursday night.

Local experts will be on hand to share information about local recycling and composting efforts with the help of Beverly elementary school students performing skits, storyteller Tony Toledo and free food from Root.

"What we're trying to do is take a topic that has become white noise and to present it again in a way where people enjoy it and are entertained and enthusiastic about doing something about it," Green Beverly Community Engagement Director Julia Quigley Long told Patch.

Long said the night, held in partnership with the Beverly Waste Reduction Committee and the city of Beverly, will inform those attending about what can and cannot be recycled and how to live a lifestyle that reduces waste and its impact on landfills and the planet.

"We don't want it to be niche," Long said. "We don't want it to be somebody else's thing. We want it to be connected to all of us in a way that makes sense."

The night will include information on how to recycle mattresses and textiles — which are now banned from landfills under state law — as well as how to reduce the use of plastics and landfill-clogging materials as part of a daily routine.

"Our great grandparents would look at our lifestyles and not know what to make of it," Long said. "We have to think about how convenient it is for our lifestyle but also is that convenient for our planet?"

Long said as of earlier this week there were also more than 200 pre-registrations for the event. Those looking to attend who have yet to do so are asked to pre-register here. Child care is available for the event as well.

"We will use this as an example of how we can run a big event, with food, and be mindful of waste management," Long said. "It's about learning to create a smaller footprint."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)